3 Tips To Find Time Together After Kids

Hi Foxy Friends! Today my friends Dara, Adrienne, Lauren, Ashley, and Sarita are hosting a new link up called Not Just A Mom. I love this, because sometimes we forget that we were people before our kids. Today's topic is how we fit in date nights.

| TIP 1 | Make it a priority - Stop Making Excuses

I feel like so many times people make excuses why they can't go out for example: the kids are too young, they might miss me, I have mommy guilt.  Stop with the excuses and remember why you are with your partner and you were humans before the kids came who went out, probably on a regular basis. Don't have a sitter? Find a friend, do a kid swap. Not comfortable with doing that at night, do a day date. Just stop making the excuses and go out, you'll be happy you got some you time, and you'll be a happier couple, which in turn your kids will be happy and healthy becuase your relationship is too.

Something that might interest you: How To Deal With Mommy Guilt

| TIP 2 | Schedule It!

If you don't schedule it it won't happen. We usually have to schedule it a month or so in advance. Yes it takes a while to do it, but we get it on the schedule so other things don't get in the way. If it's on the calendar, and someone asks us to do something, we say we're busy. If it's not scheduled then it's not going to happen. Trust me, sometimes we go months without going on an actualy date. Sometimes we'll find a day when both of our schedules at work are non busy and we'll go to lunch together, and sometimes we just plan a date when both kids are in school, so we don't have to worry about finding a sitter. Yes you have to take a day off work, but sometimes it's worth it.

| TIP 3 | Does not have to involve going out

Most times we are super busy with sports schedules and what not. But we find time almost EVERY night to spend time with just us. We put the kids to bed, and usually if kitchen clean up hasn't happened before then we do it together. It goes so much faster with the two of us, we do kitchen clean up and lunch making together. Then we head to watch one show before bed. Yes this happens almost every night. No I don't get as much sleep as I probably should, but it's worth it to me to get 30 minutes less sleep to have time with Mr. each night. I really do think this makes our relationship stronger, we go to bed at the same time, we have the same schedule. No one is staying up while the other goes to bed (unless one of us is sick). We have time to chat a bit while getting ready for bed and go over the day and what is happening the next day.

So what do you do to fit in Date Nights with your partner?

Hey It's Okay

Hi Foxy friends! I've seen some friends do this a few times, but I thought I would actually participate this month. Thanks Amber for the link up, and blog topic for this currently blog writers block lady.  Hey It's Okay:

...to not be blogging at the moment, life is busy and I want to spend my time enjoying Summer with the kids, perhaps I'll get my mojo back come next month.

...to be excited about my birthday at the end of the month and celebrating with friends.

...to have laundry stacked up and in the piles that I need to wash, but just never do.

...that I want to read all of my friends blogs, but between work and kid activities it's just too much, hence the blog break.

...that I would rather be doing my newest craft obsession, making keychains and tumblers.

...that I am more excited than sad that my youngest is starting Kinder in a couple of weeks.

Last one...

It's okay that I am not the crying parent that balls her eyes out when kids start school, specifically Kindergarten, more excited for them to learn all the things.

3 Things: May

Hi Foxy Friends. I had every intention on doing joining in on this prompt, but didn't. I'm in a blogging rut, ever been there? I have all these ideas, but have so many things on my plate that it's hard to find time to do it all. So blogging takes a back seat...but I guess better later than never right? So thanks Laura for hosting! Here are the prompts.

1. So if you know me at all, I don't do plants, I don't garden. All gardens everywhere hide and cower when they see me coming. One year Mr. planted some of those blubs from Costco and magically they keep coming back each year, three years and counting.

Plus we have a bunch of roses that I'm sure are older than dirt, they have been through so much, but they keep coming back gorgeous as ever. These are all in our front yard.

2. We usually kick off summer with a Memorial Day party. Last year we went to someone's house instead of doing it at our house, I'm pretty sure that's what we're doing again. All these kids, do dang cute, love that they all get along too. Perfect for the parents to socialize and not have to constantly referee arguments.

3.  Let's talk mom for a bit. She is awesome and I'm lucky that she was able to stay home to take care of us kids growing up. She loves the kids something fierce and comes up with the cutest crafts to do with them. She did a darling Mother's Day craft with them for me. I am so happy that the kids are able to have a relationship with her because she and Dad decided to move closer to us. So thankful everyday for getting to see them weekly. She's a great shopper, you all know my love for shopping, I get it 100% from her, haha. Put us in a mall together and we're in trouble! Love you Mom!

Since I have a black thumb, what are you all growing in your gardens this season?

Blast From the Past

Hi Foxy Friends! Today over on The Blended Blog we're going back to our high school selves to show you how we dressed...Not sure if I want to show you. As I am looking through pictures, I don't feel like I've changed that much! Haha!

*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page.
 

Then 

I went through some old pictures and realized I sort of wear the same thing...take this, denim shirt with floral skirt...that's in right now...sort of.

Now

Updated the skirt to a tulle one, and tied off the chambray shirt.

 Skirt (Similar) / Shirt (same style, different print)/  Heels (similar) / Earrings (similar) / Necklace (similar)

Then

Baggie jeans with a tank top...I still wear a lot of tank tops. Baggie jeans, no one likes those.

Now

White jeans and a floral tank top.

 Jeans (similar) / Tank (similar) / Wedges (similar)

 Then 

Jean shorts, tank and a short sleeve sweater...hmmm...the buttoning of the sweater, I question that.

Now

Ditched the sweater, and gone to printed tank tops.  No weird short sleeve, button awkwardly shirt needed.

Shorts (similar) / Tank (similar) / Flip Flops (size up at least 1/2 a size)

Alright now that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself, what did your high school self wear? Go link up your fashion post to The Blended Blog.

Kellyann. Sarah. Andrea. Deena. Carrie

Lana. Vanessa. Whitney. Abbie. Shelly

Linking up here

Random Crafted Thoughts

Hi Foxy Friends! Today you're getting two posts in one, because I couldn't decide what I wanted to write about, so I'm doing both! First I'm linking up with The Blended Blog for their Favorite Things Monday post. Then I always seem to miss Laura's 3 Things series, but not today! Okay let's get started!

 

| ONE | 

Favorite thing right now is this high waisted bathing suit (top/bottom). You guys, it's awesome! Has the comfort of a one piece but the look of a two piece, I get the hype. We're going on two bathing suit vacations this year, Spring Break in Palm Springs and then Hawaii, so lots of bathing suit options is a must!

I love this this one too, so dang cute, coming with us on vacation.

See other bathing suit options that I love here.

Oh and my favorite slip on shoes are even more on sale! I am going to get them in rose gold color. I wear them ALL the time. Wear them all day at work walking around, no socks, super comfortable and no blisters. What more could you want from a shoe? The rose gold is under $23!

| TWO |

I love that Mini Fox is doing her own hair, pretty soon she's not going to need me, waaaahhh!!!!

She told Mr. "Daddy! I did my own hair!" Mr. interpreted that as "I don't need you any more"

| THREE |

Loving baseball season right now, even though it's rained a lot, at least the kids got to play this weekend! Baseball is so much more fun to watch than soccer when all the kids just clump together, hehe.

| ONE | Do you believe in luck?

Yes I believe in luck, it's lucky every time I win a giveaway. Which seems like it happens all the time. Like that one time I won $500 to Victoria Secrets, or just a few months ago when I won $300 to Ulta, thank you Cara! Doing an Ulta Haul soon!


| TWO | What was your favorite thing about yesterday or today?

Baseball season! I love all of it, I loved that we could watch both games, that they didn't overlap and that the kids LOVED it and they are playing with their friends.

| THREE | Show us the last picture you took...

Lunch with friends.

What was the last picture you took? Show me in the comments below!

My Gratitude in 5 Pictures

Hi Foxy Friends! Today I'm linking up with The Blended Blog again for our Monday topic of the day discussion. Today is 5 pictures in gratitude...wow, 5 pictures huh? Okay let's gets started.

I'm grateful for this guy. Mr. is my rock and support system, my partner in crime and everything in between. He puts up with my incessant picture taking, my need to document everything, and goes along with the flow when I want to randomly stop to take pictures. He is the best fathers to our children, and my love for him grows everyday watching him with our children. Anyway...I'm not all about the sap life (yes I am, I just don't know how to convey it in words). So I'll just leave it at, I love this guy and all he does for the family and everything he does to keep me sane in this journey of parenthood.

Cousins...I love that we are close and that we are able to get our kids together as often as we can. Growing up I was always with my cousins and now that we are adults we have formed our own traditions with our families and I love it. Matching PJ's are really my favorite. This year, I found THE MOST PERFECT PJ's for this Cousin Crew.

Grateful for these kids. I know this is a weird picture, so let me explain. Baby Fox is probably only 15 pounds heavier than Mini Fox...we had to take Mini Fox to the doctors to get a wart removed and it hurt, and she cried a lot. I was carrying her, but had to set her down to get the keys, and Baby Fox, concerned gave her a hug and then asked if she wanted him to carry her. So he did, for about 50ft. He does this all the time, when she's hurt. She does the same for him. The love they have for each other, makes this Mama heart burst. I hope they are always this close and love each other this much.

New friends. I am so grateful that we decided to switch Baby Fox's school and with doing so have found a tribe of ladies who support each other, help pick up each others kids when we get stuck, laugh together, get advice from, drink wine with and do stuff like this Trunk Or Treat theme. Anyone willing to wear this in public is a friend of mine. So glad I get to spend the next at least 7 years with these ladies planning events!

Grateful for my blogging friends! Who know 4 years ago when I decided to do a clothing challenge that I would meet such wonderful that not only were blogging friend that have become in real life friends. It's pretty awesome when you read about someone for so long, and then you actually get to go shopping with that person, and you can walk into a store an know exactly what the person is going to pick out. It's so much fun, getting to know these ladies better, and I am so happy they are in my life, whether we keep on blogging or not, I know we will be there for each other...Next trip can't come soon enough!

I would like to add one more picture I'm grateful for. My aunt had her last round of Chemo, and Mr. and I were able to be at every single one of her infusions. Those words on the monitor were so sweet. I'm grateful for her team of doctors, for catching it early, for the medicine working and shrinking that little bugger, and for Mr. and my work being understanding taking so much time off work to be with her. This view was a view we looked at for many hours and I am so grateful I was able to take the time to be with her and my Uncle.

TBB Asks: March Edition

Hi Foxy Friends! It's the first Monday of the month which means that The Blended Blog is asking, and we're answering. This month is all about beauty, so naturally the questions are beauty related.

*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page. 

1. Eyelash Curler: Yes Or No? Yes, although I don't use it when I'm using heavy lashes, like these. I have stick straight eyelashes that go straight into my eyes.

2. Favorite Nail Shade? 

Hands down OPI Lincoln Park After Dark'

 

The color in the picture is WAY more purple,  on the nails it looks almost black.

3.  Favorite Lipstick Shade?

So many choices, and not enough time.  But for a good neutral, I really like the color Bella from Lipsense.

I really like the Kylie Lip Kit red in color Mary Jo K.

 

4. Blow Dry or Air Dry Your hair?

I blow dry in the winter, and air dry in the summer. I really dislike being cold, so I dry it as soon as possible. 

5. Artificial Nails: Yes or No?

Nope, all real for me. I used to hate short nails and always had them long, but since kids, short, short, short. I did have one artificial nail when I got married, because my natural nail broke the day before we got our nails done for our wedding, oops!

6. Foundation: Yes or No?

Yes and no? I use a powder foundation for everyday wear to even out skin tone and then I use a foundation for when I have a long day or for special occasions. I haven't found a liquid foundation I really love yet.  

7. Hair Up or Down?

Down for the most part, I like to pin back my "bangs", I rarely use a ponytail, I think I have a weird shaped head for wearing all up, even though I love up dos. These are some of my favorites.

8. Bar Soap or Body Wash?

Bar soap, Dove to be exact.

9. Bath or Shower?

Shower, every time I take a bath, I just think of all the things I could be doing, instead of relaxing. I did however buy my first bath bomb from Lush a couple of weekends ago. Mr. says,  you do realize you will probably never use that? I'm going to prove him wrong, darn it!

10. Favorite Body Lotion?

I use Lubriderm mostly, and when I am really dry, which is most of the winter months, I use Vanicream

11. Do You Wear Perfume?

No, allergic to most scents. Although the allergy shots may or may not be helping me out, haven't decided yet. I was at a friends house and she lit a bath and body works candle, and eventually I had to ask her to blow it out because it was making me feel sick. So I guess my answer would be a definite no.

12. Do You Shave Your Legs Everyday?

No. Full confession, I am a lucky one and the hair on my legs grows in super soft and sparce, so you can't tell when I have hairy legs. Truth be told in the winter I don't have to shave my legs, unless I have a special event where I feel like it, but it's totally not necessary.

13. Favorite Lip Balm?

Lypsyl, I know totally random lip balm that no one has heard of, but I love it and have it in my purse, work, vanity...

14. How Old Were You When You First Started Wearing Make Up?

Ummm...34? When I decided I wanted to learn how to wear make up? When I was in high school/college, my mom and I would get into fights about me not wanting to wear make up and her wanting me to. Truth be told, I did a little make up in college, but on the daily, not until recently.

This is me in 2008, I considered this full make up all done up. I really liked my short hair...




Now link up your #TBBASKS below! Can't wait to see your answers.

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